Project Director

Job Announcement

Project Director

Preferably based in the U.S., or Nairobi, Kenya

(Anticipated Start Date: January 2025)

The position is contingent upon receipt of donor funding.

About Aquaya

The Aquaya Institute (‘Aquaya’) is a nonprofit research and consulting organization dedicated to advancing global health through universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). We deliver critical insights, data, and tools to support informed policy, program, and financing decisions. This knowledge helps to secure safe water and sanitation for vulnerable populations, improving human health and well-being.

Aquaya’s portfolio spans public health, economics, technology development, and social entrepreneurship in over 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We have published or contributed to over 40 peer-reviewed research articles and produced numerous other reports and publications.

Aquaya maintains offices in Nairobi, Kenya and Accra, Ghana. Staff members are also in the US, France, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Many of our projects are carried out in collaboration with academic research groups and expert consultants.

About the position

We are recruiting for the role of Project Director to lead an anticipated USAID research activity under USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs. This position may be part-time or full-time (60-100% time), is based in the U.S. or Nairobi, Kenya, and will require the ability to travel globally. The Project Director will be responsible for managing all project activities, including, but not limited to:

• Provide overall technical strategy and direction for all project activities and staff.
• Be responsible for global and institutional technical leadership.
• Serve as the main point of contact for external coordination with USAID, sub-awardees, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure administrative, fiscal, and regulatory oversight of the project, including management of any sub-awardees.

About the project

USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance has issued a call for proposals to address priority knowledge gaps around emergency WASH programming including infrastructure and operations and maintenance (O&M) models to support continued drinking water services over time.

USAID intends to award one cooperative agreement of up to $2,250,000 over a three-year period to address water supply infrastructure durability and operation and maintenance models to provide drinking water for affected rural populations in different humanitarian response contexts. This award will address two primary objectives: 1) identifying promising O&M models for rural water supply infrastructure that could be adapted for humanitarian response, and 2) validating promising models through in various humanitarian contexts. 

Criteria for the position

The following qualifications are necessary for this position:

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field;
• Significant leadership experience in each of the following areas, totaling at least 10 years:
  • Technical expertise in humanitarian response and WASH,
  • Project management, including coordinating partners and sub-partners, and
  • Research.
• Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated leadership and senior managerial experience overseeing a team (or teams) of cross-cutting expertise in support staff and/or consultants.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Fluency in English.
• Ability to travel to field sites approximately 25% of the time (this is an estimated average and is subject to fluctuation).

We are also looking for the following skills and attributes:

• Previous experience as a Chief of Party, Project Director, Deputy Chief of Party, or Deputy Director for a USAID-funded activity (this is a plus but not required).
• Experience working in and traveling to highly insecure contexts.
• Good problem-solving and time-management skills.
• Strong work ethic and a commitment to delivery.
• Outstanding organization with an attention to detail and an ability to deliver on deadlines.
• Appetite for publishing research articles.
• Commitment to enhancing the capacity and skills of junior colleagues.
• Ability to work with remote and culturally diverse teams.
• Proven ability to work closely to successfully manage multiple and changing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining a positive and productive attitude and a good sense of humor!

Compensation and Benefits

This position has an initial 3-month probationary period. Aquaya offers competitive salaries that are commensurate with experience. For full-time employment, benefits include medical insurance and enrolment in a pension plan.

To apply

Please submit your resume via e-mail to jobs@aquaya.org and a thoughtful cover letter. Once your resume is received, there will be an additional screening survey and activity. This position will be open until filled.

Please explain why you are interested in Aquaya’s mission and activities in your cover letter. Please also tell us why your skills, background, and accomplishments make you the ideal candidate for this position, specifically highlighting your experience. Please note that we will only consider applications with a cover letter. In your e-mail subject line, please specify “Project Director 2024”. No phone calls, please.

Aquaya provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.